PALESTINE.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 February 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE.

MOTHER PALESTINE Vi'OTORY,

AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS OCCUPY JERICHO

GREAT WORK BY LONDONERS.

LONDON, February 23. Mr. Massey at the Palestine Headquarters, reporting on the 21st inst., says: General Allenby's army has driven the Turks from a strong position eas't of Jerusalem, London troops capturing all commanding positions overlooking the southern Jordan Valley, and Australian and New Zealand Mounteds entering Jericho to-day. The enemy, entrenched in a series of hills, were attacked by London infantry on Tuesday, and yesterday on a 12-mile front. The enemy were defeated everywhere, and suffered heavy losses. The country is extremely difficult, being a mass of hills, valleys, kloofs, and dongas, worn into the rock-faced hills. One place, Wadi-far-ar, has a perpendicular cliff side 500 feet high but the infantry routed out the enemy from their trenches, and blasted them out on ridges and spurs of the mountain ranges, showing the greatest gallantry. On Tuesday ■ at dawn they attacked a line of about twenty thousand yards. In some places the Turks retreated. During the artillery bombardment in the centre, one battalion had to assault three times before winning the system of trenches, "During Tuesday, night the infantry, 1 moved to attack the range from Talat-ed-Dumn to Ekteiff, the key to the Jericho-Jerusalem road, which runs through these hills. On the Dunn is the "Good Samaritan Inn," and the remains of the Crusader Castle Hill, known to the Arabs as the "Hill of Blood." I saw the Londoners carry the hill in splendid style, after most accurate artillery fire, but the enemy held on stubbornly to Ekteiff, whose southern face is as precipitous as Gibraltar. Marching during the night, the troops had great difficulties over the rough ground. One column took nearly eight hours to cover slightly over three miles. In some places the' men walked in single file. The enemy cleared off Ekteiff in the afternoon, Meanwhile the Anzacs moved through desperately hard country, threatening the enemy's rear. They were held up a considerable time in a defile, through which only two men could pass abreast, the Turks bringing several guns to bear on this point. By nightfall we had occupied all the positions commanding the southern Jordan Valley. The Turks hurriedly retired. The Anzacs made a rapid march this mprning, l entering Jericho, at S. o'clock. Yesterday Hhe Turks burnt stores on the northern shores of the Dead Sea. Our operations will if not entirely prevent, an important source of grain supply to the Turkish forces.

BRITISH IN TOUCH IWITH ARABS

LONDON, February 23. Router is authoritatively informed that the British advance on the Jordan will greatly help in establishing touch with the Arabs thereby greatly encouraging the Allies. General Allenby's position is now well defined. The right flank rests on the Dead Sea and the left on the Mediterranean hence a frontal attack alone is possible for the enemy. We control the Dead Sea, have access to the rich lands on the eastern side, and menace the railway to Damascus. Ahead are eastier country and better roads. A MOST BRILLIANT FEAT. LONDON, Feb 24. Mr. Massey states that the capture of Jericho was a most brilliant feat. The Australian and New Zealand Mounteds moved eastward over hills, threatening the enemy's" rear, in most difficult country. They were held 'up for some considerable time in a defile, where only two could pass abreast. The enemy brought several guns to bear on this point, but when darkness fell the Anzacs too ksuch commanding positions that the Turks fled to the east. Anzac cavalry entered Jericho in the morning.